Automatic regulator for combined dynamo and storage-battery circuits.



A. E. DOMAN. AUTOMATIC REGULATOR FOR COMBINED DYNAMO AND STORAGE BATTERY CIRCUITS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9,1911. 1,238,896.

e I I F (T; Q q 1 v I 1 TN "3 T I III IIIIIImm I E z\ a "L 33 T? N a YE/Tirol? I By Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

NITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT E. DOMAN, OF ELBRIDGE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO DYNETO ELECTRIC CORPORATION, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION,

OF NEW YORK.

Application filed September 3, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. DOMAN, of

\ Elbridge, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Regulators for Combined Dynamo andStorage- Battery Circuits, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact-description.

. ments in automatic regulators for combined dynamo and storage battery circuits as used more particularly in motor vehicles for operating a system of lamps or other translating devices, and in which the dynamo is automatically connected to'the storage battery at a definite dynamo voltage through .the medium of an electro-magnetic voltage coil and a suitable circuit closer actuated thereby.

The dynamo is driven by the propelling power or engine of the vehicle and is, therefore, driven at widely varying speeds corresponding to the varying speeds of the engine so that if the current output were not regulated, it would vary in direct proportion to Y the speed.

The. main object of the regulator is to cause the dynamo to produce the greatest possible current output under a minimum speed, as for example when the machine is driven slowly, and on the other hand to automatically limit such current output to approximately that required to operate the lamps or other translating devices commonly used. in. machines of this character, and to supply enough additional current to bring the battery up to full charge as the speed of the dynamo increases beyond that which is necessary to meet the requirements abovementioned. 7

Another object is to allow the current from the dynamo to flow into the battery at all times when the dynamo voltage exceeds that of the battery and to automatically break the dynamo circuit to the battery when its voltage falls below that of said battery.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the apparatus will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings Figure 1, is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, of a motordriven dynamo circuit and a storage bat- Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Sept. 4, 191 '7.

Serial No. 648,587.

tery circuit, together with my improved regulator and translating devices connected in both circuits. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the assembled parts of the regulator, exclusive of the circuits, dynamo and storage battery.

This regulator consists essentially of a hollow core section "2 and a co-axial core rod 7 of electric conducting material v movable axially and cooperating with a con- This 1nvent1on relates to certain improveduct-or 14 to form a circuit closer, the meeting ends of the members 7 and -14: having cooperative contacts for a purpose hereinafter described, said member 7 beingnormally withdrawn from contact with the conductor 14 by a retracting spring 8.

The operation of the core rod 7 against the action of the spring 8 is influenced by one or more of a series of, in this instance three, co-aXial and concentric coils 15, 16 and '41'-, all surrounding the core rod.

The inner coil 15 nearest the core rod is made up of relatively few turns of comparatively coarse wire, Fig. 2 while the coil 16 surrounding the coil 15 consists of a relatively large number of turns of comparatively fine wire, the coil 41 being placed around the coil 16- and cons titutes what will be hereinafter termed a resistance coil. a

The conductor 14 is supported in an insulating sleeve 37 co-axial with the core rod 7, said insulating sleeve being firmly secured in the outer end 'of the core section 2 and constitutes a support for a resistance pile consisting, in this instance, of co-axial carbon disks 34land -35 which are interposed between the flanged outer end of the insulator 37 and adj acent end of the core section 2, and are,

carbon disks 34 and 35 to reduce the resistance at their. meeting faces to the .lowest degree necessary for the successful 14- will be moved endwise against the action of the spring 38, thus increasing the resistance between the meeting faces of the disks -34 and -35.

This action of" the cooperative contacts 7 and 14- and carbon disks is utilized in the automatic regulation and control of the several circuits as follows: A motordriven dynamo D. has one of its poles (Z connected by a Wire 17 to the outer end of the core rod 7 which is in sliding electric connection with the core section 2, the latter being connected by a wire 24 to one end of the coil 16, the other end of said coil being connected by return, Wires 23 and 18 to the other pole cl of the dynamo, thus completing the circuit through the coil 16 which causes the core 7 to move endwise into contact with the conductor 1 l, thus closing the circuit through the cooperative contacts on the adjacent ends of the conductor 7 and 'l4.

The conductor I4 is connected by a wire 25 to one end of the coil l5 having its opposite end connected to one pole of a storage battery B, the other pole of which is connected by wires eand 27 to the wire 18, thus connecting the storage battery in circuit with the dynamo for charging purposes and also for another purpose hereinafter described.

The coils l5 and 16 are wound in the same direction and, therefore, under the conditions justdescribed, act in harmony so that the energizing of the coil 15 exerts additional magnetic pull upon the member 7 against the action of the retracting spring 8 to, press the adjacent ends of the members 7 and 14 together with greater force sufiicient to overcome the normal action of the spring -38-, thereby releasing the disks -34 and 35' from close contact and increasing the resistance between their meeting faces.

It is now clear that the pressure of the core rod 7 upon the conductor 14 increases with an increased voltage of the dynamo, while the resistance between the carbon disks 34' and 35 is corre spondingly increased and this variable resistance is utilized in further control of circuits as follows: The core section 2 is connected by a Wire 2et to one end of the coil 4:1 having its opposite end connected by wires -l2 and -28 to one end of the shunt field winding, as F, of the motor, the other end of the shunt field winding being connected by a wire 29 to the pole d of the dynamo, while the outer carbon disk 34 is connected by a wire 33 to the wire 28 and hence to the shunt field winding F, thus placing the resistance coil 4:1 and resistance disks -34 and 35 in multiple with each other and in series with the shunt field winding.

The resistance in the shunt field circuit of the dynamo will, therefore, be variable and will produce a corresponding variation in the voltage or output of the generator and it is uponthis principle that the regulator operates.

The translating devices such as incandescent electric lamps L are connected in circuit with the dynamo and also with the battery, one side of the light circuit being connected by a wire 43 to the coil -15 at a point intermediate its ends, ,while the other side is connected by wires l-1, 27 and 18 to the pole d of the dynamo, and by wires 4A and -e to one pole of the battery B.

It is now clear that if the translators L are cut out of the circuit, the current from the dynamo will charge the battery through the wires 17, conductors 7 and 14, wire 25, coil 15, wire 26 to one pole of the battery, thence from the other pole of the battery through wires e, 27 and 18 and return to the dynamo, the current output of the dynamo being automatically regulated by the variable resistance between the carbon disks 34 and 35, such automatic regulation continuing whether the lights are off or on.

Now, if the lights are thrown on and the voltage in the charging circuit exceeds that of the battery, then a portion of the current generated by the dynamo will pass throu h the wire 43 to the lights and return y the wires t4r, 27, and l8 to the dynamo.

On the other hand, if the dynamo is at rest or driven at a relatively low speed, as for example when driving the car slowly, the electromagnetic effect of the coil -16 would be insufiicient to draw the core rod 7 into contact with the contact member '14 against the action of the spring 8- and would, therefore, leave the dynamo circuit to the battery and electric lamps open or broken, while the voltage of the battery, would be in. excess of that produced by the generator, under which conditions the battery would discharge through the wire -26 and portion of the coil -15- to the point of connection of the wire l3 circuit through its part of the coil 15 would be offset by that of the remaining part of the coil which would then be in the dynamo circuit when the wire 43 is connected, substantially midway between the ends of said coil, as shown in the drawings. If the voltage of the dynamo is substantially equal to that of the battery, it is evident that the lamps will be supplied with current from both the dynamo and battery, that is a part of the dynamo current will pass through the wire 17' and members 7 and 14, wire 25 and a part of the coil -l5 to the point of connection of the wire 18 therewith, and return through wires 27 and 18- to the dynamo, while the battery current will pass through the remaining part of the same coil and thence through the wire 43-, lamps L, wire 44 and return through the wire e to the battery.

It will now be readily understood that when the dynamo is in operation, an increase of current in the coil 15 will tend to release the pressure upon the carbon disks which will increase the effective resistance in the shunt field circuit and this in turn will cause a reduction of output of the dynamo and also cause the current in the coil 1 5 and circuit connected thereto to become normal.

I find that the coil 4t1 placed in the manner described materially assists in maintaining a smooth operation of the regulator because of the additional. magnetic efl'ect produced by diverting a portion of the shunt dynamo field current therethrough, but it is evident that the same amount of resistance may be introduced in any other place in the shunt field circuit without from the spirit of this invention.

The operation of the regulating device, previously described, has mainly to do with the efi'ect of the series current in the coil departing 15 and it is found that this will tend to make a constant flow of current, regardless of the state of the battery, that is whether it isfully charged or less so.

Since the, voltage of an ordinary storage battery will vary about 25% between full charge and a safe limit of discharge, I utilize this eflect in the coil 16 to cause a lesser charging rate as the battery voltage increases, charged. v

This feature of my invention operates as follows: The increased voltage of the battery causes a corresponding increase of magnetic effect between the parts -7 and 2, which, in the manner above described, reduces the current generated by the dynamo; then, as the battery voltage varies, the charging rate varies inversely with it.

It is also evident that the wire -et3- may be connected to the coil 15 at some other point, nearer to or farther from one end as may be necessary under some conditions ofcurrent output of the dynamo or battery, or current required in the lamps.

It will be noted that I have provided in a single instrument an automatic circuit breaker and an adjustable automatic regulator with means for varying the charge rate of the battery to meet actual requirements of the batter and further means whereby any load of the working circuit will cause the dynamo to generate just enough extra current to supply the work to be done and still maintain the same charge rate to the battery.

For instance, the generator controlled by my device may be operated on a motor car during the day time and having the battery fully charged or nearly so, delivering to it a current of, say, two amperes.

Now, if from any cause, as from darkness, the lights should be needed, the dynamo then delivers enough current for the lamps or as the battery is more fully and also continues to supply two amperes to both core sections and forms a suitable supporting body around which the coils -15, .16 and -41 are wound, the outer end of the core section 2 and opposite end of the tube l being provided with radially projecting flanges to properly confine the coils, suitable space being left between the meeting ends of the core sections 2 and -6 to allow for the endwise movement of the last-named section.

The various parts of the regulator are inclosed within a suitable case 1 which, together with the core sections 2 and 6- are made of magnetizable material to facilitate the action of the core section 6 when the coil 16 is energized for closing the contacts 7 and -14'.

What I claim is:

.1. In combination with a variable speed dynamo having a shunt field winding, a pressure-controlled variable electric. resistance .in series with said winding, normally core section -2 within a non-magnetic tube which surrounds" separated cooperative contacts for controlling said pressure, a voltage coil connected in the dynamo circuit for closing one contact against the other contact, a storage battery having one pole connected to the, dynamo and its other pole connected to said other contact, the last-named connection including therein a current coil cooperating with the first-named contact to assist the voltage coil in holding the contacts closed with greater pressure to increase said resistance when the current of the dynamo exceeds a definite value, and a translating device connected across the dynamo and battery circuits from a point intermediate the ends of said current coil so that when the contacts, are closed and the voltage of the dynamo exceeds that of the battery, parts of the dynamo current may charge the battery and operate the translating device, or if the contacts are open, the translating device may be operated by the battery through the included portion of the current coil.

' sameagainst the second-named contact and 2. The combination with a dynamo having a shunt field winding and a storage battery connected in the dynamo circuit for thereby close the charging circuit, both coils being wound to act in harmony to close said contacts when energized from the dynamo,

a variable resistance pile electrically connected in series with and between the first named contact and shunt field winding of v the dynamo, means for exerting pressure 'upon the pile and second-named contact in opposition to the pressure produced by the first-named contact when actuated by said coils, and a translating device connected across the charging circuit from a point between the ends of .the first-named coil,

whereby a portion of such coil will be included in the battery circuit to operate the;

translating device when the energy of the battery exceeds that of the dynamo.

3. The combination with a dynamo having a shunt field winding, and a storage battery connected in-the dynamo circuit for charging purposes, of normally separated cooperative contacts, one of which is electrically connected to one side of the dynamo circuit, an elect'ro-magnetic coil acting upon such contact and having one end connected to the other contact and its opposite end electrically connected to one side of the battery, a separate electro-magnetic coil acting upon the first-named contact to close the same againstjhesecond-named contact and thereby close the charging circuit, both coils being wound to act in harmony to close said contacts when energized from the dynamo,

coils, and a translating device connected across the charging circuit from a point be tween the ends of the first-named coil, whereby the portion of the first-named coil included in the battery circuit acting in opposition to the remaining portion of said coil to reduce the pressure of the contacts one upon the other, and thereby reduce the resistance in said pile. v

4. The combination with a storage battery and a charging circuit therefor, including a variable speed dynamo and a shunt field winding, of a normally open circuit closer and an electro-magnetic coil, both connected in series in one side of the charging circuit, said coil being arranged to exert its magnetic influence toward closing the circuit closer when energized by the dynamo, a translating device connected from a point \intermediate the ends of said coil across the charging circuit, a separate coil connected across said circuit between the circuit closer and dynamo and arranged 'to exert its influence to close said circuit closer prior to the energizing of the first-named coil, and a variable reslstance device electrically connected to said circuit in series with the shunt field winding of the dynamo and controlled by the circuit closer to increase such resistance as the current strength in the coils increases.

5. A regulator for battery charging circuits comprising a circuitcloser connected in one side of the charging circuit and provided with cooperative contacts, one of which is movable into and out of pressing engagement with the other, means not-- mally separating such movable contact from the other, means for exerting pressure upon the other contact toward the movable con- 1 suchmanneras to cause a reduction of the charging current as the pressure upon the resistance pile is reduced by the pressure of 'the contacts one against the other, means for operating the movable contact against the opposed contact comprising an electromagnetic coil connected across the charging circuit between the circuit closer and source of current supply forthe charging circuit,

a separate e lectro-magnetic coil in the ends of the last-named coil across said charging circuit between the circuit closer circuit. 10 and battery and arranged to exert its in- In Witness whereof I have hereunto set fluence upon the movable contact of the my hand on this 26 day of August, 1911. circuit closer for closing the same when ALBERT E. DOMAN.

the voltage of the charging current exceeds Witnesses:

that of the battery, and a translating device A. E. BROWN,

connected from a point intermediate the E. S. REMINGT N. 

